Aquilegia, Hybrid Columbine 'McKana's Giant'

Sis, you don't have to destroy all the leaves to get rid of leaf miners. It just takes some time and patience pressing each leaf between ...Read Morethumb and forefinger to kill the tiny larva inside each one. I did this to mine last spring and later in the summer all the new growth was totally free of leaf miner. I think I have quashed the infestation totally. I have had leaf miner in them since I received them from a friend in 1988, and this is the first time I have seen unaffected leaves! I just never before thought to do this.

First off, I have to say I believe I am pushing it trying to grow this plant in our region. I think the desert climate here is a bit tou...Read Moregh for this plant. But I have always loved these flowers. I grew the smaller variety from seed and had some success though they don't stay around too long. So I thought I would try these Giants just for fun. Well suprizingly it took 3 years to see a flower. The foilage is very pretty so I just left them there since I enjoyed that aspect. But finally this 3rd Spring, I had both a white one and red one bloom. Was it worth it to see the beautiful flower that is produced...For me...Yes. Will I try it again - Yes! With what little experience I have so far in growing these here, I would suggest, a part shade area or at least an area where the base of the plant it shaded and...lots of patience!

i start from seed and plant out in part-shade lcations zone3a.
the first year i started so many i tucked the little plants in any ...Read Morebare spot i saw.
the following year i was surprised by all these lovely blooms
on long stems dancing in the wind over the foliage.
due to their short-life span and ease of starting..i always have a few to pop in 'here and there'
perfect pastel colors fit in with any color scheme.
a must-have in my plantings.

I grew this from seed three years ago and it is a lovely columbine, which blooms well into July if I deadhead it. It has become about 24...Read More" wide and the flower stalks reached about 24" (after the deer ate them to the ground this spring). Once it starts to bloom the deer seem to leave it alone. I moved it last fall and it came back well in its new location - never missed a beat.